Webquest Format created by Julie Hanson

What Lives at the Bottom of the Ocean. . .?

As long as people have inhabited earth, they have relied on the ocean for food, industry, and recreation. Many years ago, humans were satisfied with the sea life and resources that lived near the shore and were readily accessible to humans. But, as times have changed and technology has evolved, people have become very curious about what types of creatures live at the bottom of the ocean. This unknown frontier presents a new challenge to scientists and oceanographers.

The Task

You are an oceanographer who is interested in uncovering the mysteries that lie at the bottom of the ocean. In order to do so, you decide to travel to these deep depths and search for yourself. However, upon resurfacing, many scientists and the press what to know the following about your journey:

  • How much pressure is at the bottom of the ocean?
  • What are the depths at which people and various fish can survive?
  • What strange sea life did you encounter? Did they have any unique/strange features?
  • What types of food did all the fish eat?

Resources

In order to make these discoveries you will need to put on all your diving gear and snorkel to the following web pages to search for the answers. Good Luck and beware of the sea monsters!

The Process

Dive through all of the above resources and gather enough information to get a better understanding of the sea life on the ocean floor.

  1. Visit each of the links provided. Do not worry about reading each page completely, but look thoroughly through the information so you understand the complications with deep sea exploration, and the many diverse creatures that dwell on the ocean floor.
  2. Take notes; record what surprised you, what you thought was interesting, and what your favorite discovery was.
  3. Visit the library or use the internet to further research your topic. Pick, either, a specific fish that interested you, or the process of deep sea diving. Then, research your topic further.
  4. When you have adequately researched your topic, include your personal research along with the answers to the assigned questions above (Task).
  5. Prepare yourself to present your findings through a speech to the press, or a report to be published in the latest scientific journals.

Learning Advice

The purpose of this webquest is to provide a window into a frontier on earth that is still a huge mystery. In order to gain a better understanding put yourself in the position of a deep sea diver that is going places nobody has every been.

You may want to begin your adventure by visiting the sight that shows all the unique fish that inhabit the deep waters. This will give you an idea of just how different the bottom of the ocean is.

Pay close attention to the special features these fish have that help them survive in deep waters. This will help you get an idea of just how mysterious these waters are!

Conclusion

The mysteries that you have uncovered have been intriguing scientist for many years. Eventhough the deep waters of the ocean and its creatures seem only to be weird, they have an impact on our lives.

The ocean is an undiscovered frontier that someday may be very important for humans. Today, we don't fully understand how to utilize its resources, but with continued experimentation and explorations we may discover an untapped resource.

Questions to think about. . .
  1. Someday, could the salt water in the ocean be used as drinking water for humans?
  2. What are some resources that the bottom of the ocean provides? HINT: heat? oil? cures for diseases or medicines?
  3. If the ocean did become a source of industry, what are some precautionary measures we should take to ensure the safety of the sea life and to lessen pollution?
All graphics taken from public domain.


This webquest created 3/31/00 by:
Julie Hanson
Teaching Student
Montana State University
Bozeman, Montana
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